“I can’t,” I whisper. “Not yet. If I leave now, they’ll know. They’llcomefor me.”
His jaw tightens. “Then I stay.”
“We don’t even know where to go.”
His gaze softens slightly. “We’ll figure it out.”
I want to believe him.
Iwantto.
But then I hear Darwin call my name.
We both freeze.
Maug vanishes into the shadows.
I turn, smiling like nothing’s wrong.
Darwin’s teeth are too white in the dusk. His skin too smooth. His eyestoocalm.
“Hey, Jill,” he says, tone casual, but there’s something under it. “Can we talk?”
I nod.
He leads me behind the hydro unit. It smells like mold.
“I just wanted to say,” he begins, “everything’s fine now.”
My blood chills.
“The mission’s almost done. You’ve done your part. You can rest.”
I stare at him.
He steps closer. “You don’t have to fight anymore. Just… come with me. You’ll feel better after.”
“No thanks,” I say, keeping my voice light.
His head tilts. “You sure?”
“I’m sure.”
He shrugs. “Suit yourself.”
He walks away.
Just like that.
But when I get back to my bunk, the pillow is wet.
Not soaked. Just… damp.
I didn’t drink anything. I didn’t spill anything. There’s no condensation.
Just water.
I don’t sleep.
